A Key List for Authors?

Lists… Love them or hate them, they can be a game changer. But there’s one list that seems to fly under the radar: the Later List.

It’s easy to get excited about a new idea, and before the excitement has even had a chance to cool off, it’s put into action. 💥📋

I do this sometimes 😅, and I’ve seen this happen a lot, especially when working with authors. There’s an initial burst of enthusiasm, but sometimes that leads to taking on too much too quickly.

🧠 So let’s talk about the Later List!

It’s the perfect place to store those brilliant ideas that are a little too shiny to ignore, but not quite right for Right Now.

… So the focus stays on the more immediate priorities for the month or quarter. ☑️

📌 Starting a Later List

Next time a new idea strikes, instead of jumping straight into it, try storing it somewhere easy to access later.

This could be a Notion page, a Google Doc, or even just a notebook. It doesn’t matter where—just pick one place and stick with it, otherwise you won’t trust your system. I recommend a digital option (available on your phone).

📌 How Often to Review the Later List

It’s a good idea to check in with the Later List at least once a quarter. When those quarterly planning sessions roll around, it’s the perfect time to go through those ideas and see which ones are ready to move forward. It’s a way to revisit old ideas and determine if they’re worth implementing or if they should stay on the shelf for a while longer.

📌 The Big Question: Does a Later List Make Sense?

I think that having a Later List can help avoid the overwhelm of trying to juggle everything at once, while still keeping track of ideas for the future.

If the Later List sounds like a helpful tool, it might be worth giving it a try. There’s something satisfying about knowing that all those ideas won’t get lost in the shuffle, even if they’re not quite ready for the spotlight yet. 🖋️

Do you have a Later List or something that holds your Not-Now ideas?